Overview
Primal Genesis is a token deck that copies its best tokens. Ghired, Conclave Exile creates a 4/4 green Rhino creature token with trample when it enters, and whenever it attacks you populate, creating a token that is a copy of a creature token you control. That token enters tapped and attacking. The bigger your best token, the bigger each attack.
The 99 cards are 28 creatures, 1 planeswalker, 5 artifacts, 6 enchantments, 10 instants, 10 sorceries and 39 lands. The deck makes big tokens with cards such as Rampaging Baloths, Garruk, Primal Hunter, Thragtusk, Wingmate Roc, Soul of Zendikar and Dragonmaster Outcast, and then copies them with populate cards, including Growing Ranks, Song of the Worldsoul, Trostani, Selesnya's Voice, Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage, Full Flowering and Second Harvest.
Key Cards
Playing the Deck
The early game is about mana and cheap token makers. Sol Ring, Cultivate, Explore, Farseek and Sakura-Tribe Elder ramp you, and Doomed Artisan, Atla Palani, Nest Tender, Roc Egg and Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage start making tokens. Dragonmaster Outcast becomes a Dragon factory once you have six lands. Intangible Virtue and Elemental Bond give early value for a board of tokens.
The middle of the game is about populating your biggest token. Ghired, Conclave Exile, Trostani, Selesnya's Voice and Wayfaring Temple populate, Rampaging Baloths, Thragtusk and Wingmate Roc make the best targets, Ohran Frostfang gives your attackers deathtouch, and Marisi, Breaker of the Coil stops opponents casting spells during combat. Idol of Oblivion draws a card each turn that you made a token.
The late game is about a huge attack or a fresh start. Giant Adephage copies itself when it connects, Tectonic Hellion attacks as an 8/5 with haste, Tahngarth, First Mate cannot be blocked by more than one creature, and Second Harvest and Full Flowering double the board. Phyrexian Rebirth and Hour of Reckoning clear the board, and Hour of Reckoning leaves your tokens alone.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths: The deck has a huge number of token makers and a lot of ways to copy them, and many of its creatures replace themselves or draw cards. It also has efficient interaction and protection, including Beast Within, Angel of Sanctions, Naya Charm, Rootborn Defenses, Sundering Growth and Slice in Twain.
Weaknesses: The populate cards need a good token to copy, so the deck can be clumsy when its tokens are removed or when a board wipe arrives, and three colours with some strict costs can stumble. Phyrexian Rebirth destroys your own creatures too, so use it carefully.
Want to improve it? See the Primal Genesis upgrade guide: twelve swaps with the data behind each one.
Want to see what a fully optimised Ghired, Conclave Exile build looks like? Try the Oracle.
✦ Build with The OracleFrequently Asked Questions
What cards are in the Primal Genesis decklist?
The Primal Genesis precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Ghired, Conclave Exile. The full Primal Genesis decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.
When was Primal Genesis released?
Primal Genesis was released on August 23, 2019 as part of Commander 2019.
Who is the commander of Primal Genesis?
Primal Genesis is led by Ghired, Conclave Exile, a Naya (W/R/G) legendary creature.
How many creatures are in Primal Genesis?
The 99 cards besides Ghired, Conclave Exile include 28 creatures.
How many lands does Primal Genesis have?
Primal Genesis has 39 lands in the 99 cards besides Ghired, Conclave Exile, including basic lands.
Full Decklist
All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Primal Genesis precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.